Hořice

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title: "Hořice" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cities-and-towns-in-the-hradec-králové-region", "populated-places-in-jičín-district", "jewish-communities-in-the-czech-republic"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hořice" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameHořice
settlement_typeTown
image_skylineHořice-Maria-column2011a.jpg
image_captionJiřího z Poděbrad Square
image_flagFlag of Horice.svg
image_shieldZnak města Hořice.svg
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_name
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1Hradec Králové
subdivision_type2District
subdivision_name2Jičín
pushpin_mapCzech Republic
pushpin_relief1
pushpin_map_captionLocation in the Czech Republic
coordinates
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameMartin Pour
established_titleFirst mentioned
established_date1143
area_total_km221.43
elevation_m311
population_as_of2025-01-01
population_footnotes
population_total8476
population_density_km2auto
timezone1CET
utc_offset1+1
timezone1_DSTCEST
utc_offset1_DST+2
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_code508 01
website
::

| name = Hořice | other_name = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Hořice-Maria-column2011a.jpg | image_caption = Jiřího z Poděbrad Square | image_flag = Flag of Horice.svg | image_shield = Znak města Hořice.svg | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Hradec Králové | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Jičín | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Czech Republic | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Czech Republic | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Martin Pour | established_title = First mentioned | established_date = 1143 | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 21.43 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 311 | population_as_of = 2025-01-01 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 8476 | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone1 = CET | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = CEST | utc_offset1_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 508 01 | area_code_type = | area_code = | website = | footnotes = Hořice (; ) is a town in Jičín District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 8,500 inhabitants. The history of the town is connected to the stone mining in the area, which caused its economic growth. The town is known for its secondary school of applied arts and for the production of the traditional confectionery Hořické trubičky.

Administrative division

Hořice consists of seven municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):

  • Hořice (7,576)
  • Březovice (92)
  • Chlum (124)
  • Chvalina (63)
  • Doubrava (56)
  • Libonice (274)
  • Svatogothardská Lhota (0)

Etymology

The name is probably derived from the personal name Hora, meaning "the village of Hora's people", but it could be also derived from the old Czech diminutive form of hora (i.e. 'mountain').

Geography

Hořice is located about 21 km southeast of Jičín and 21 km northwest of Hradec Králové. It lies on the border between a hilly landscape of the Jičín Uplands in the north, and a flat landscape of the East Elbe Table in the south. The highest point is at 440 m above sea level.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Hořice_-_kostel_Svatého_Gottharda.jpg" caption="Church of Saint Gotthard"] ::

The first written mention of Hořice is from 1143 in the foundation deed of the Strahov Monastery. It was founded on a hill later named Gothard, which was named after the Church of Saint Gotthard founded here in the 12th century. In the 13th century, the settlement was moved to strategically more advantageous place below the hill. In 1365, it was first documented as a market town.

In 1423, Gothard hill was the site of a battle of the Hussite Wars. During the rule of the Smiřický noble family from the mid-16th century to the early 17th century, the town developed rapidly.

In 1846, the town square was damaged by a large fire, which destroyed most of the wooden houses. The wooden buildings were replaced by stone houses, which initiated stone quarrying in many local quarries. This has led to economic development and Hořice turned into a real town. Several factories were established, especially by Jewish entrepreneurs, and sandstone quarrying also developed. In 1882, the railway was built and connected the town with Hradec Králové and Jičín.

Demographics

|align=none|cols=3 |1869|6710 |1880|7028 |1890|7894 |1900|8814 |1910|9897 |1921|9787 |1930|9421 |1950|7700 |1961|7754 |1970|8090 |1980|9251 |1991|9282 |2001|9091 |2011|8783 |2021|8185 |source=Censuses}}

Economy

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Hořické_trubičky.JPG" caption="Hořické trubičky"] ::

The town is known for its production of Hořické trubičky ("Hořice Rolls"), which is a traditional confectionery. The production started here in 1812. The manufactory is a protected geographical indication by the European Union.

Transport

The I/35 road (the section from Hradec Králové to Jičín, part of the European route E442) passes next to the town.

Hořice is located on the railway line Hradec Králové–Turnov.

Education

Hořice is known for its secondary school of applied arts. It was founded in 1884. It is a prestigious school that specialises primarily in working with stone. It is the alma mater of many prominent Czech sculptors and artists, but also offers technical fields dealing with stone mining and geology.

Sights

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Hořice_-_galerie_kamenných_plastik.jpg" caption="Sculpture park"] ::

Among the most valuable buildings is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. It was built in the Baroque style by plans of Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer in 1738–1748. The Hořice Castle was created in the Baroque style in the mid-18th century by reconstruction of a Gothic fortress from 14th–15th century.

On the Gothard hill, there is the Church of Saint Gotthard. The original Romanesque cemetery church was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1783. On the hill there are also remains of an old fortress with the first-ever Czech sculpture of Jan Žižka, former Jewish cemetery, and a sculpture park.

Among the main landmarks of Hořice is the Masaryk Independence Tower, located on the northern edge of the town. It is a place of remembrance and a memorial to the victims of both World Wars and the anti-communist resistance. It was built in 1926–1938 according to the design by František Blažek. The monument's tower was originally supposed to measure 40 m, but it remained unfinished due to the advent of World War II and was instead covered by an observatory dome. There is a small museum inside.

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

Hořice is twinned with:

References

References

  1. (2025-05-16). "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2025". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  2. (2022). "Public Census 2021 – basic data". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  3. Profous, Antonín. (1947). "Místní jména v Čechách I: A–H".
  4. "Archeologická vycházka po Hořicích". Město Hořice.
  5. "Historie města Hořice". Město Hořice.
  6. "History of Town". Město Hořice.
  7. (2015-12-21). "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  8. (2021-03-27). "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  9. "Sdružení výrobců Hořických trubiček (SVHT)". Kubištovy Hořické trubičky.
  10. "Detail stanice Hořice v Podkrkonoší". [[České dráhy]].
  11. Hejtmánek, Tomáš. (2021-04-14). "Hořická škola víc prosazuje kameníky, sochaři se kvůli tomu ozvali". iDNES.cz.
  12. (2023-11-20). ""Šutrárna" v Hořicích plní sny umělecky nadaných dětí. V rodinné atmosféře se rodí sochaři i malíři". [[Czech Radio]].
  13. "Masarykova věž samostatnosti s hvězdářskou kupolí v Hořicích". CzechTourism.
  14. "Věž samostatnosti jako památník národní hrdosti". Město Hořice.
  15. "Úvodní strana". Město Hořice.

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cities-and-towns-in-the-hradec-králové-regionpopulated-places-in-jičín-districtjewish-communities-in-the-czech-republic